Shoulder Therapeutic Exercise Overview

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to shoulder anatomy, biomechanics, therapeutic exercises, and common conditions associated with shoulder injuries.

GHJ

Glenohumeral Joint, the ball-and-socket joint that connects the humerus to the scapula.

STJ

Scapulothoracic Joint, where the scapula moves over the thoracic rib cage.

ROM

Range of Motion, the degrees of movement available at a joint.

Acromion

The bony process on the scapula that forms the highest point of the shoulder.

Coracoacromial ligament

A ligament that connects the acromion and the coracoid process.

Supraspinatus tendon

A tendon of one of the rotator cuff muscles that helps with shoulder abduction.

Subacromial bursa

A fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between the acromion and the rotator cuff.

Rotator cuff

A group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder.

Tendinopathy

A condition related to overuse injuries of the tendon.

Adhesive Capsulitis

Also known as frozen shoulder, marked by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint.

Risk Factors

Elements that increase the likelihood of developing health conditions, such as age and occupation.

Joint mobilization

Manual therapy technique aimed at restoring joint motion.

Subjective questioning

A method of gathering patient information through open-ended questions.

Hypomobile conditions

Conditions where there is a reduction in the normal movement of a joint.

Fracture signs

Deformity, severe pain, loss of function, swelling, and tenderness.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)

A group of disorders affecting connective tissues, leading to hypermobility.

Protraction

Movement of the shoulder blade away from the spine.

Retractors

Muscles that pull the shoulder blades together.

Elevation

Movement that raises the shoulder or limb.

Scapulothoracic joint biomechanics

Movement patterns of the scapula relative to thoracic rib cage.

Labral tear

Injury to the labrum, the fibrocartilage rim around the glenoid.

Biceps brachii tendon

The tendon connecting the biceps muscle to the forearm.

Coracobrachialis

A muscle of the upper arm that helps flex and adduct the shoulder.

Muscle guarding

Involuntary muscle contraction in response to pain.

Synovial membrane

Tissue lining the joints, providing lubrication.

Painful arc syndrome

Shoulder pain that occurs between 60 and 120 degrees of shoulder abduction.

Active assisted ROM (AAROM)

Range of motion facilitated by an external force.

Active range of motion (AROM)

Movement that a patient can perform independently.

Passive range of motion (PROM)

Movement provided by an external force without patient effort.

Occupational risks

Job-related activities that may predispose workers to injuries.

Bankart lesion

A tear of the glenoid labrum associated with shoulder dislocation.

Hill-Sachs lesion

A defect in the humeral head caused by dislocation.

External rotation

Rotating the arm outward away from the body.

Internal rotation

Rotating the arm inward towards the body.

Primary shoulder elevators

Muscles like the anterior/middle deltoid and supraspinatus involved in raising the arm.

Instability

The inability of a joint to maintain its normal position.

Prognosis

The likely outcome or course of a disease or condition.

Cryotherapy

The use of cold therapy to reduce inflammation and pain.

Neurovascular complications

Issues relating to nervous and vascular injuries during dislocation.

Glenoid labrum

Fibrocartilaginous structure that deepens the glenoid fossa.

Rotator interval

Region between the supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons.

Capsular ligament

Ligament surrounding the shoulder joint providing stability.

Micro tearing

Small tears in tendon or muscle fibers due to overuse.

Joint instability

The joint's inability to maintain an optimal position and alignment.

Fibrosis

Abnormal formation of fibrous tissue; commonly associated with healing.

Functional ADL

Activities of Daily Living that one needs to perform functionally.

Submaximal resistance

Resistance that is less than the maximum capacity of a muscle.

Strengthening exercises

Exercises aimed at increasing muscle strength.

Resisted shoulder exercises

Shoulder exercises performed against resistance to increase strength.

Scapular force couple

Muscle groups that work together to stabilize and move the scapula.

Patient education

Informing patients about their treatment and recovery process.

Post-operative precautions

Guidelines followed to ensure proper recovery after surgery.

Mechanical properties

Characteristics of tendons and muscles affecting their function and durability.

Neurosensory response

The body's sensory response to pain or injury.